Apron of One Piece Design

ABSTRACT

A apron having a one-piece thin sheet body made from a flexible and foldable material and properly cut to provide an open type neckline portion disposed in a middle part near the top side thereof for attaching to the user&#39;s neck, two back belts respectively formed of a left part and a right part thereof for tying the apron to the user&#39;s waist, and two neck belts respectively formed of a top left part and a top right part thereof for tying the apron to the user&#39;s neck, and thus the apron can be better secured to the user&#39;s body to well protect the user&#39;s clothes from “wear and tear”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to aprons, more particularly to one of a one-piece design, which when worn secures to the user's body better, is more comfortable, and more effectively protects the user's clothes from “wear and tear”

2. Description of the Related Art

The conventional apron is an outer covering that covers primarily the front of the body to protect the user's clothes from “wear and tear”, as illustrated in FIG. 1. According the design in this prior art, the apron is comprised of a one-piece thin sheet body 3 having an open type neckline portion 31 disposed in the middle near the top side for hanging from the neck 22 of the user 2 and two openings 30 configured in such a manner that two back belts 32 are formed from an upper left part and an upper right part of the thin sheet body 3 for tying the apron to the waist 21 of the user 2 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). This one-piece design apron is cheap and disposable, but it still has drawbacks; the drawbacks are as follows.

-   -   1. The human head is much larger than the neck. In order for the         apron to be conveniently put on by the user, the open type         neckline portion 31 must be made relatively larger, so that the         neckline portion 31 may be passed through by the user's head,         and be conveniently hanged from the user's neck 22. When the         apron is worn on the user's body as in such case, a large area D         of the user's body around the neck 22 is exposed and not well         protected by the apron 111 (see the lattice line marked area in         FIGS. 2 and 3).     -   2. Because the open type neckline portion 31 has a large size,         the apron may shift around relative to the user's body on its         own when the user turns the body or changes posture, causing         exposures for the user's chest area to the environment.     -   3.Because the design of the two openings 30 of the thin sheet         body 3 relatively increases the exposure area and waste         material, the fabrication of aprons of this design is not in         line with being environmental friendly.     -   4. The open type neckline portion 31 is not expandable, so it         will not fit a person having a head that is larger than what the         neckline portion can have passed thorough, or likewise with one         wearing a hood, which the head with hood on is larger than what         the neckline portion can have passed through.     -   5. When a person wears the apron at a beauty salon, the large         area D of the user's body around the neck 22 that is exposed to         the environment and may be soiled by falling hair during         haircut, water or cleaning agent shampoo during hair wash.     -   6. When a person wears the apron at a dental clinic to receive a         dental treatment, the large area D of the user's body around the         neck 22 that is exposed to the environment may be soiled by         dental-related pollutants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a apron for being worn on a user to cover the front of the user's body, which is comprised of a thin sheet body in a one-piece design properly cut to provide an open type neckline portion for attaching to the user's neck, two back belts for tying the apron to the user's waist, and two neck belts for tying the apron to the user's neck.

By means of the neck belts and the waist belts, the apron can fit different users and can be better secured to the waist and neck of the user, and therefore the apron can better cover the front of the user's body to effectively protect the user's clothes from “wear and tear”.

Further, the apron is a disposable one-piece design for providing hygiene protection, having the advantages of being easy and inexpensive to fabricate and convenient to use.

Further, the thin sheet body provides a longitudinal perforation formed of a series of small longitudinally spaced cuts that can be torn off easily, enabling the open type neckline portion to be easily attached to the neck of a person having a larger head or wearing a hood.

Further, the apron provides hygiene protection. Further, the fabrication of the apron minimizes the amount of waste material and is in line with being the principles of environmental friendly.

Further, the apron is practical for daily life use, such as housekeeping, painting, gardening or washing; for service industry application such as beauty salons; for industrial and other uses; as well as for dental related applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a plain view of a apron according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a schematic applied view illustrating an apron according to the prior art and as worn on a user.

FIG. 3 is a rear side view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plain view of a apron in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4, illustrating the back belts and the neck belts extended out.

FIG. 6 is a plain view of an alternate form of the apron in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic applied view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the apron worn on a user.

FIG. 8 is a rear side view of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 6, illustrating the back belts extended out and the longitudinal perforation torn off.

FIG. 10 is a plain view of an alternate form of the apron in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 corresponds to FIG. 10, illustrating the neck belts extended out.

FIG. 12 is a plain view of an alternate form of the apron in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 corresponds to FIG. 12, illustrating the neck belts extended out.

FIG. 14 is a plain view of an alternate form of the apron in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 corresponds to FIG. 14, illustrating the neck belts extended out.

FIG. 16 is a plain view of an alternate form of the apron in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 corresponds to FIG. 16, illustrating the neck belts extended out.

FIG. 18 is a plain view of an alternate form of the apron in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a plain view of an alternate form of the sixth embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 4-9, a apron in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The apron is comprised of a flexible and foldable thin sheet body 1 having opposing top and bottom sides and opposing left and right sides. The thin sheet body 1 is comprised of an open type neckline portion 11 disposed in the middle near the top side for attaching to the user's neck 22, two longitudinal slits 12 symmetrically disposed near the left and right sides, two transverse slits 13 respectively extended from the top ends of the longitudinal slits 12 to the left and right sides at right angles and defining with the longitudinal slits 12 two waist belts 10 at the left and right sides respectively (see FIG. 5) for tying the apron to the waist 21 of the user 2 (see FIGS. 7 and 8), two transverse perforations A respectively formed of a series of small transversely spaced cuts 14 and respectively extended from and in line with the transverse slits 13 so that two neck belts 18 (see FIG. 5) can be respectively formed of the top left part and top right part of the thin sheet body 1 for tying the apron to the neck 22 of the user 2 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). In an alternate form of this first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the two longitudinal slits 12 respectively extend to the top side of the thin sheet body 1, and the two transverse perforations A are respectively extended to the longitudinal slits 12. By means of the neck belts 18 and the waist belts 10, the apron can be better secured to the waist 21 and neck 22 of the user 2, and therefore the apron can better cover the front of the user's body to effectively protect the user's clothes from “wear and tear”.

The thin sheet body 1 further is comprised of a longitudinal perforation C formed of a series of small longitudinally spaced cuts 17 and extending from the top middle of the open type neckline portion 11 to the top side of the thin sheet body 1. This longitudinal perforation C can be torn off easily (see FIG. 12), enabling the open type neckline portion 11 to be easily attached to the neck of a person having a big head or wearing a hood.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a apron in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The apron of this second embodiment is comprised of a flexible and foldable thin sheet body 1 having opposing top and bottom sides and opposing left and right sides. The thin sheet body 1 is comprised of an open type neckline portion 11 disposed in the middle near the top side for attaching to the user's neck, two longitudinal slits 12 symmetrically disposed near the left and right sides and respectively extended to the top side so that two waist belts 10 are formed of an upper left part and an upper right part of the thin sheet body 1 for tying the apron to the user's waist, and a substantially S-shaped slit 199 disposed in a top middle part thereof and having a bottom end 1991 connected to a top right corner of the open type neckline portion 11 so that two neck belts 101 and 102 are formed of a part of the thin sheet body 1 for fastening the apron to the user's neck.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a apron in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. The apron of this third embodiment is comprised of a flexible and foldable thin sheet body 1 having opposing top and bottom sides and opposing left and right sides. The thin sheet body 1 is comprised of an open type neckline portion 11 disposed in the middle near the top side for attaching to the user's neck, two longitudinal slits 12 symmetrically disposed near the left and right sides and respectively extended to the top side so that two waist belts 10 are formed of an upper left part and an upper right part of the thin sheet body 1 for tying the apron to the user's waist, and a substantially S-shaped perforation E formed of a series of small spaced cuts 103 and disposed in a top middle part thereof and having a bottom end E₁ connected to a top right corner of the open type neckline portion 11 (see FIG. 12). The S-shaped perforation E can be torn off so that two neck belts 104 and 105 can be formed of a part of the thin sheet body 1 (see FIG. 13) for fastening the apron to the user's neck by tearing off the S-shaped perforation E.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a apron in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The apron of this fourth embodiment is comprised of a flexible and foldable thin sheet body 1 having opposing top and bottom sides and opposing left and right sides. The thin sheet body 1 is comprised of an open type neckline portion 11 disposed in the middle near the top side for attaching to the user's neck, two longitudinal slits 12 symmetrically disposed near the left and right sides and respectively extended to the top side so that two waist belts 10 are formed of an upper left part and an upper right part of the thin sheet body 1 for tying the apron to the user's waist, a short longitudinal slit 191 vertically downwardly extended from the middle part of the bottom side of the open type neckline portion 11, and two arched slits 192 and 193 bilaterally and symmetrically extending around the open type neckline portion 11 and respectively connected to the short longitudinal slit 191 so that two neck belts 194 and 195 are formed of a part of the thin sheet body 1 (see FIG. 15) for fastening the apron to the user's neck.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate a apron in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The apron of this fifth embodiment is comprised of a flexible and foldable thin sheet body 1 having opposing top and bottom sides and opposing left and right sides. The thin sheet body 1 is comprised of an open type neckline portion 11 disposed in the middle near the top side for attaching to the user's neck, two longitudinal slits 12 symmetrically disposed near the left and right sides and respectively extended to the top side so that two waist belts 10 are formed of an upper left part and an upper right part of the thin sheet body 1 for tying the apron to the user's waist, and two arched perforations F and G respectively formed of a series of small transversely spaced cuts 196 and bilaterally and symmetrically extending around the open type neckline portion 11 so that two neck belts 197 and 198 can be formed of a part of the thin sheet body 1 (see FIG. 17) for fastening the apron to the user's neck by tearing off the arched perforations F and G.

FIG. 18 illustrates a apron in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The apron of this sixth embodiment is comprised of a flexible and foldable thin sheet body 1 having opposing top and bottom sides and opposing left and right sides. The thin sheet body 1 is comprised of an open type neckline portion 11 disposed in the middle near the top side for attaching to the user's neck, two longitudinal slits 12 symmetrically disposed near the left and right sides, two transverse slits 13 respectively extended from the top ends of the longitudinal slits 12 to the left and right sides of the thin sheet body 1 at right angles and defining with the longitudinal slits 12 two waist belts 10 at the left and right sides respectively for tying the apron to the user's waist 21, two supplementary transverse slits 15 respectively extended from and in line with the transverse slits 13 so that two neck belts 16 are respectively formed of the top left part and top right part of the thin sheet body 1 for tying the apron to the user's neck 22, and a longitudinal perforation C formed of a series of small longitudinally spaced cuts 17 and extending from the top middle of the open type neckline portion 11 to the top side of the thin sheet body 1. This longitudinal perforation C can be torn off easily, enabling the open type neckline portion 11 to be easily attached to the neck of a person having a big head or wearing a hood. By means of the neck belts 16 and the waist belts 10, the apron can be better secured to the user's waist 21 and neck 22, and therefore the apron can better cover the front of the user's body to effectively protect the user's clothes from “wear and tear”. FIG. 19 illustrates an alternate form of the apron in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The apron of this embodiment is substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 18 with the exception that the two longitudinal slits 12 directly extend to the top side of the thin sheet body 1; the transverse slits 13 are omitted; the transverse slits, referenced by 15, are respectively perpendicularly extended from the longitudinal slits 12, defining two relatively shorter neck belts 16.

Further, in the aforesaid various embodiments of the present invention, the thin sheet body 1 can be made from plastics (for example, polyethylene), paper, cloth or nonwoven fabric.

Further, the length of the apron is sufficient for covering the front of the user's body including the area under the user's waist so that the apron can be used as an apron.

In conclusion, the invention provides a apron which has the advantages and features as follows:

-   -   1.By means of the neck belts 18;101;102;104;105;194;195;197;198         and the waist belts 10, the apron can fit different users and         can be better secured to the waist 21 and neck 22 of the user 2,         and therefore the apron can better cover the front of the user's         body to well protect the user's clothes from “wear and tear”.     -   2. The apron is a disposable one-piece design for providing         hygiene protection, having the advantages of being easy and         inexpensive to fabricate and convenient to use.     -   3. The thin sheet body 1 provides a longitudinal perforation C         formed of a series of small longitudinally spaced cuts 17 that         can be torn off easily, enabling the open type neckline portion         11 to be easily attached to the neck of a person having a larger         sized head or wearing a hood.     -   4. The apron provides hygiene protection; the fabrication of the         apron minimizes the amount of waste material and is in line with         being environmental friendly.     -   5. The apron is practical for daily life use, such as         house-keeping, painting, gardening or washing; for service         industry applications such as beauty salons; for industrial and         other uses; as well as for dental related applications.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A apron for being worn on a user to cover the front of the user's body, comprising a thin sheet body selected from a flexible and foldable material group of plastics, paper, cloth and nonwoven fabric; said thin sheet body defining opposing top and bottom sides and opposing left and right sides; said thin sheet body comprising an open type neckline portion disposed in a middle part near the top side thereof for hanging from the user's neck, two back belts respectively formed of a left part and a right part of said thin sheet body for tying the apron to the user's waist, and two neck belts respectively formed of a top left part and a top right part of said thin sheet body for tying the apron to the user's neck.
 2. The apron as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thin sheet body comprises two longitudinal slits symmetrically disposed near the left and right sides thereof, two transverse slits respectively extended from respective top ends of said longitudinal slits to the left and right sides of said thin sheet body at right angles and defining with said longitudinal slits said two waist belts for tying the apron to the user's waist, two transverse perforations respectively formed of a series of small transversely spaced cuts and respectively extending in a perpendicular manner relative to said longitudinal slits so that said two neck belts are respectively formed of said top left part and said top right part of said thin sheet body for tying the apron to the user's neck.
 3. The apron as claimed in claim 2, wherein said two longitudinal slits are respectively extended to the top side of said thin sheet body; said two transverse perforations are respectively perpendicularly extended to said longitudinal slits.
 4. The apron as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thin sheet body further comprises a longitudinal perforation formed of a series of small longitudinally spaced cuts and extending from a top middle of said open type neckline portion to the top side of said thin sheet body; said longitudinal perforation being torn off to expand said open type neckline portion.
 5. The apron as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thin sheet body further comprises a substantially S-shaped slit disposed in a top middle part thereof so that two neck belts are formed of a part of said thin sheet body for tying the apron to the user's neck.
 6. The apron as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thin sheet body further comprises a substantially S-shaped perforation formed of a series of small spaced cuts and disposed in a top middle part thereof; said S-shaped perforation having a bottom end thereof connected to a top right corner of said open type neckline portion; said S-shaped perforation being torn off so that said two neck belts are formed of a part of said thin sheet body for tying the apron to the user's neck.
 7. The apron as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thin sheet body further comprises two longitudinal slits symmetrically disposed near the left and right sides thereof and respectively extended to the top side thereof so that said two waist belts are formed of an upper left part and an upper right part of said thin sheet body for tying the apron to the user's waist, a short longitudinal slit vertically downwardly extended from a middle part of a bottom side of said open type neckline portion, and two arched slits bilaterally and symmetrically extending around said open type neckline portion and respectively connected to said short longitudinal slit so that said two neck belts are formed of a part of said thin sheet body for tying the apron to the user's neck.
 8. The apron as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thin sheet body further comprises two longitudinal slits symmetrically disposed near the left and right sides thereof and respectively extended to the top side thereof so that said two waist belts are formed of an upper left part and an upper right part of said thin sheet body for tying the apron to the user's waist, and two arched perforations respectively formed of a series of small transversely spaced cuts and bilaterally and symmetrically extending around said open type neckline portion; said arched perforations being torn off so that said two neck belts are formed of a part of said thin sheet body for tying the apron to the user's neck.
 9. A apron for being worn on a user to cover the front of the user's body, comprising a thin sheet body selected from a flexible and foldable material group of plastics, paper, cloth and nonwoven fabric; said thin sheet body defining opposing top and bottom sides and opposing left and right sides; said thin sheet body comprising an open type neckline portion disposed in a middle part near the top side thereof for attaching to the user's neck; two longitudinal slits symmetrically disposed near the left and right sides thereof; and two transverse slits respectively connected to said longitudinal slits so that two waist belts and two neck belts are respectively formed of an upper left part, an upper right part, a top left part and a top right part of said thin sheet body for tying the apron to the user's weight and neck.
 10. The apron as claimed in claim 9, wherein said transverse slits respectively extend to the left side and right side of said thin sheet body; said longitudinal slits are respectively perpendicularly extended to said transverse slits. 